Lubricant containing lithium salts



Patented Mar. 3, 1942 2,274,675 LUBRICANT CONTAINING LITHIUM SALTS Clarence E. Earle, Washington, D. O.

No Drawing.

Application November 4, 1940,

Serial No. 364,248

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and improved inbricating compositions containing lithium salts of various organic acids.

It is the object of this invention to provide lubricating compositions having a suitable oil base and a consistency that may be varied to suit difierent uses by the'addition of lithium salts.

My copending application, Ser. No. 328,095, filed April 5, 1940, discloses the highly beneficial results arising from incorporating lithium soaps, of the higher fatty acids in lubricating oils, both in mineral and in non-drying vegetable oils.

I have found that the use of lithium soap or salts of soap forming higher fatty acids in the production of lubricating greases gives the greases entirely diiierent properties from those obtained by the use of the other alkali metal salts. The greases produced by my method are water resistant, whereas the other alkali salts do not give such a property. My lithium soap greases withstand temperatures greatly in excess of those containing other alkali metal salts. The properties of these improved lubricating greases are not only widely dififerent from the other alkali metal soap types but also they are much more stable to temperature and pressure, both-chemically and physically.

Suitable oils may be treated with lithium salts to produce lubricants having consistencies ranging from viscous oil to grease-like structures.

' eral oil and a lithium salt of ethyl butyric acid,

said salt being. present in quantities of from 4% Among the lithium compounds so used are the lithium salts of acetic, butyric, ethyl butyric, ethyl hexoic and caproic acid. These lithium salts, when added .to or produced by reactions in mineral or non-drying vegetable oils, in quanconsisting of ethyl butyric, ethyl hexoic and caproic acids and an oil from the groupconsisting of mineral oil and non-drying vegetable 4. Lubricating compositions, comprising a mineral oil and a lithium salt of ethyl butyric acid, said salt being present in quantities suflicient substantially to thicken said oil.

5. Lubricating compositions, comprising a non- -drying vegetable oil and a lithium salt of ethyl-- butyric acid, said salt being present in quantities of from 4% to 40%.' I

6. Lubricating compositions, comprising a nondrying vegetable oil and a lithium salt of ethyl butyric acid, said salt being present in quantities sufiicient substantially to thicken said oil.

7. Lubricating compositions, comprising a mineral oil and a lithium salt of ethyl hexoic acid, said salt being present in quantities of from 4% to 40%.

8. Lubricating compositions, comprising a mineral oil and a lithium salt of ethyl hexoic acid,

said salt'being present in quantities suflicient substantially to thicken said oil.

9. Lubricating compositions, comprising a non- 12. Lubricating compositions, comprising mineral oil and a lithium salt 01' caproic acid in quantities suflicient substantially to thicken said 

